Thinking about Integrating Digital Literacy and Cybersecurity into Grades K-12
Dr. Gerald Ardito
Associate Professor of CS Ed Manhattanville College
Welcome/Intros
- Your teaching - who, where, what?
- Your experience with and/or teaching with Computer Science/Computational Thinking?
Some Guiding Questions
- What does it mean to integrate Computer Science and Digital Literacy Learning Standards into our work with students?
- How can we identify areas of intersection?
- What are the high level opportunities (instead of the low hanging fruit)?
Round 1 Priorities

What Do We Already Do?
- Read critically to find meaning (setting, character, tone, etc.)
- Learn Math
- Learn Science
- Perform Music
- Make Art
All of these are foundations on which we can build
Let’s Start with Cybersecurity
Major Ideas - Identity - Trust - Privacy
Where Do Our Students Already Encounter these Ideas
- ELA - themes in books and other readings
- Music/Art/ELA - how do we recognize authors and their unique contributions
- Science - DNA/Genetic Code, Elements and Molecules in Chemistry
- History - What makes cultures unique? What happens when cultures clash?
Examples - Where the Students Already Are
Recommendation Engines: TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, etc.
## What About Digital Literacy Focus area: - Digital Use - Digital Citizenship
DL - What Do We Already Do?
Digital Use - Communication Tools: Slides, Images, Music/Audio, Web Pages(?) - Multiple Means of Representation and Expression (UDL) - Evaluating Reliable Sources
DL - What Do We Already Do?
Digital Citizenship
- What would somebody know about us from our online use? [Connects with Cybersecurity]
DL Examples
- Collaboration Tools

A Way Out (Maybe Not) Idea
